Parliament Question: Projects under Namami Gange Mission

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3190 ANSWERED ON 06.08.2026 PROJECTS UNDER NAMAMI GANGE MISSION †3190. Shri KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) the major projects implemented under Namami Gange Mission Phase-II during the year 2025 including the major Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) commissioned thereunder; (b) the total sewage treatment capacity generated so far under the said Mission and its impact on the improvement of the water quality of the river Ganga; (c) the achievements made in the field of biodiversity conservation including the present status of the Ganga Dolphin population and the details of afforestation work carried out along the banks of the river; and (d) the roadmap laid down for achieving the mission’s objectives of Nirmal (clean) and Aviral (uninterrupted flow) Ganga by the year 2026? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY) (a) Under the Namami Gange Mission-II (NGM-II), a total of 70 sewerage infrastructure projects (STPs) were implemented during the year 2025, including the 25 sewerage treatment plants commissioned. (b) Under Namami Gange Programme, 4,263 MLD sewage treatment capacity has been generated till June 2026. As per CPCB report on Polluted River Stretch (PRS) 2025, the following information about Ganga main stem pollution is available: 1Ganga Main Stem – State-wise Comparison (2018 vs 2025) State 2018 Polluted Priority 2025 Priority Trend/Observation Stretch (2018) Polluted (2025) Stretch Uttarakhand Haridwar IV No PRS — Improved and PRS → stretch removed Sultanpur Uttar Pradesh Kannauj → IV Bijnor → IV / V Partially improved Varanasi Tarighat Bihar Buxar to V Bhagalpur V Marginal pollution Bhagalpur D/S→ remains Khalgaon D/S Jharkhand No PRS — No PRS — — West Bengal Triveni → III Baharampore V improved Diamond → Harbour Diamond Harbour As per the biomonitoring conducted during 2024-25 at 50 locations along River Ganga and its tributaries and 26 locations along River Yamuna and its tributaries, the biological water quality (BWQ) predominantly ranged from ‘Good’ to ‘Moderate’. The presence of diverse benthic macro-invertebrate species indicates the ecological potential of the rivers to sustain aquatic life. (c) Under the Namami Gange Programme, biodiversity conservation has been integrated as a key component of river rejuvenation through scientific research, habitat restoration, species recovery, fisheries conservation, wetland restoration and afforestation. Under the Namami Gange Programme, biodiversity conservation has been taken up through scientific assessment, habitat restoration, species recovery and community participation. Scientific surveys covering about 7,680 km of river stretches have documented 3,037 gharials leading to preparation of the National Gharial Conservation Action Plan. The National Centre for River Research has been established at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, and four Aquatic Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centres, along with India's first Dolphin Rescue Ambulance, have strengthened rescue, rehabilitation and monitoring of aquatic fauna, and rehabilitation of Gangetic Dolphins, turtles and 2other aquatic fauna. Around 6,800 aquatic animals have been rescued and rehabilitated under the programme. Through conservation breeding programmes, more than 1,500 freshwater turtle hatchlings have been produced, 711 turtles have been released into the River Ganga, while 893 gharial yearlings and 1,899 turtles have been released into their natural habitats. NMCG is also supporting the release and post-release monitoring of the Critically Endangered Red-crowned Roofed Turtle (Batagur kachuga) through the Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation India (TSAFI). Scientific assessments have documented 215 fish species (206 native and 9 exotic) in the River Ganga. In collaboration with the ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), NMCG has undertaken scientific river ranching for restoration of native fish populations. About 2.05 crore fish seeds, comprising Indian Major Carps, Mahseer and Hilsa, have been ranched in the Ganga and its tributaries. Biodiversity conservation is strengthened through development of seven Ganga Biodiversity Parks in Uttar Pradesh, and afforestation over 33,024 hectares using native species across the five Ganga basin States in collaboration with State Forest Departments, and mobilisation of more than 5,500 Ganga Praharis across 113 districts. NMCG has supported scientific identification and prioritization of ecologically important wetlands across Ganga basin States and assisted in preparation of Wetland Management Plans and notification of wetlands under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. Wetland restoration and scientific management have been expanded across Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. As a significant outcome, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has recently notified 20 wetlands. As per the first nationwide population estimation of river dolphins (2021–2023), the estimated population of the Gangetic Dolphin in India is 6,327 individuals. (Reference: MoEF&CC report on “Population status of River Dolphins in India - 2024”). (d) The steps taken by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to improve water quality in the River Ganga and its tributaries, in pursuit of the objectives of Nirmal and Aviral Dhara, are as follows: 31. A total of 219 sewerage infrastructure projects (STPs), with an estimated cost of ₹ 35,970 crores, have been taken up for remediation of polluted rivers, creating a total sewage treatment capacity of 6,610 Million Liters per Day (MLD). 146 sewerage infrastructure projects with a cumulative treatment capacity of 4,263 MLD have been completed. 2. For industrial pollution abatement, 3 nos. of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) have been sanctioned, i.e., Jajmau CETP (20 MLD), Banther CETP (4.5 MLD) and Mathura CETP (6.25 MLD). Two projects, Mathura CETP (6.25 MLD) and Jajmau CETP (20 MLD), have been completed. 3. NMCG successfully implemented the minimum e-flow norms notified in October 2018, ensuring continuous environmental flow in the river Ganga. Regular compliance is being effectively monitored by the Central Water Commission (CWC). 4. Conservation and restoration of priority wetlands as Nature-based Solutions for river rejuvenation. 5. Expansion of riparian afforestation and restoration of degraded riverine habitats using native species. 6. Protection and restoration of habitats of the Gangetic Dolphin, gharial, freshwater turtles, otters and indigenous fish species through scientific monitoring, habitat improvement, rescue and rehabilitation programmes. 7. Strengthening long-term ecological monitoring, biodiversity assessment and river ecosystem research through institutions such as the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and ICAR–CIFRI. 8. Scientific river ranching and conservation of indigenous fish species, including Hilsa, to improve fisheries resources and aquatic ecosystem health. 9. Expansion of community-led conservation through the Ganga Prahari network and strengthening participation of State Forest Departments, local communities and other stakeholders. 10. Continued development of Ganga Biodiversity Parks, wetland restoration and integrated ecosystem-based management to complement conventional pollution abatement measures and support the objectives of Nirmal and Aviral Ganga. ***** 4